Plate and cup supporting device



July 15, 1952 H. J. LE VESCONTE ET AL 2,603,440

PLATE AND cup SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 y 1952 H. J. LE VESCONTE ET AL ,440

PLATE AND CUP SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Dec.

2 SI-lEETS-SI-IEET 2- Patented July 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT-j OFFICE PLATE-AND CURSUPPQRTING nEvIoE Harold J. Le Vesconte, Glendale, and George W.

Plumb, North Hollywood, Calif.; said Plumb assignor to said Le Vesconte Application December 16, 1946, Serial No. 716,524

level convenient for a person seated on the ground.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the above character which is composed of parts stamped from sheet metal which parts are simple in design and light in weight and which may readily'be assembled bled.

Another object of the invention is to provide and disassema device of the above character-in which the device is supported by a sheet metal stake inserted in the ground which stake is so designed as to resist any tendency of the assembly to turn.

Still another object of the invention is to provide' a device of the above character in which the holding means for a cup .or other beverage container and the plate are separately mounted on the supporting stake.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character in which the mounting of the plate on the stake serves to lock the cupholder in the supporting stake.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character in which the supporting stake is comprised of telescopically arranged members which may be collapsed to enable arrangement of the disassembled device in acompact package when not'in use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device in which the cupholding portion is formed as an integral part of the plate.

' With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is'a side elevation of a" representative form of the invention as assembled and put into use,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation as viewed from the right hand side of Fig. 1, but showing the stake element collapsed,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation showing the mode of interlocking of the plate and cupholder with the stake means,

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 4,

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional plan views taken on the lines 6-6 and 1-1 respectively of Fig. 3,

,3 Claims. 1 (01. 248-156) Fig. 8 is a series of top end and bottom views of the clip by which the plate is connected to the stake means,

Fig. 9 is a series of end, top and side views of the component parts of the cupholder shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive,

Figs. 10 and 11 are series ofvtop and side view of the elements comprising the stake means,

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of an assembly or a modified form of the device in which the plate and cupholding functions are performed by single member, and

Fig. '13 is a top plan and cupholder shown-in Fig.'12.

Referring first to that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to '11 inclusive, the device comprises -a plate I similar in form and size to the ordinary pie plate. A clip 2 formed of a sheet metal strip having the ends 3 thereof pointed and bent over the center portion, as best shown in Fig. 8 is welded or soldered to the underside of the plate. The clearances formed by the pointed ends provides clearance for welding of the clip to the underside of the plate I as shown at 4, 4 in Fig. 5. Preferably, the clip is welded to the plate in a position ofiset'from the center to counter balance the weight of the plate and a view of the combined plate cupholder associated therewith 'to be later described in detail.

The supporting stake means comprises a plate engaging member 5 and a ground engaging member 6. The plate engaging member 5 is formed from a V-shaped strip of sheet metal the upper end of which is split at the bottom of the V for a short distance and the ends are then bent outwardly and shaped to form clip-engaging flanges '|--'l adapted to enter the slot formed by the clip 2 with the outer surface of the stake engaging the edges of the pointed ends 3-3 of the clip as best shown in Fig. 5.

The plate engaging member at its lower end is pointed as at 8 and slightly above the pointed end is provided with a pair of inturned flap portions 99. The ground engaging member 6 is also V-shaped and is slidably mounted within the member 5 as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, being held in assembly therewith by the inturned flaps 9-9. At its lower end the member 6 is pointed as at It! and at its upper end it is provided with a laterally projecting handle or lug portion II by which it may be grasped topush it into the ground.

The member 5 near its upper end is provided with a second pair of inturned flap portions l2l2 back of which a tongue 13 of a cupholder I4 is adapted to be slid. The cupholder is formed of a sheet metal and comprises a shank portion [5 to one end of which the tongue [3 is attached. The side edges of the shank portion are turned down and at the end adjacent the tongue 13 extend downwardly slightly below the lower end of the tongue. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 9 these end portions are inclined toward each other and provide abutments [6, [6 adapted to beariagain' st the outer faces of the flap portions l2, I2 'to' hold the cupholder at right angles to the stake element 5. At its other end the cupholder is formedinto a circular portion ll with-theinnerandouter edges turned downwardly to stiiien it and with an opening or notch 18 at the outer edge thereof. A pair of U-shaped' straps} [9,1 9 havetheir upper end portions reversely bent to engage the circular portion and are welded thereto to; provide a bottom for the cupholder as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 while the notch l8 provides clear-- ance for the handle of a cup or the like positioned. in the holder.

To put the device into use, the cupholder is first assembled with the stake means by insert? ing the tongue 13 back of the flaps l2, [2' and pushing downwardly until it is seated against the upper edges of the flap t2, 1:2. Next the. flanges 71-! are inserted in. the clip? of the plate and whenthus assembled the. plate will lock. the: cupholder in place. Then the stake assembly inserted in the ground and. by grasping the lug; H the stake element 6 is forced. further inte the ground as shown in Fig. 1. When thus setup, the engagement between the-clip 2 and the stake element will prevent relativerotary.movement and the shape of the stake element will prevent rotary movement of the stake in the ground.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13 there is shown a modified form of the device in: which the platev and cupholder are stamped from a single sheet of. metal. As here shown the plate depression is provided with a. laterally disposed rim portion which at 21 is. extended and is provided with downturned edges 22,. 22 for stiifeni-ng. The extension 2! at its outer end is provided with a circular opening 23 having downtumed inner edges 24 and a, cup handle clearance notch 25. The bottom of the cupholder maybe provided. with straps' l-9, 19 similar in form to that shown in- Figs. 1 to 11. A clip 2 is welded tothebottomof the plate portion and the same stake assembly may be used although if. desired the flaps 12, i2 which are then unnecessary may be omitted- While we .have shown and described a specific embodiment of our invention we donot limit ourselvesto the exact details of construction set i having a socket element on its under surface, a

stake means having a horizontally disposed flange portion engageable with said socket, said stake meansi'ncludinga V-shapedground engaging element and having opposed tongue elements bridging'the open side of said V-shape, and a cupholding element engageable with said tongues, the

interengagement of said cupholder and said tongues being so constructed and arranged that when said plate is engaged with said flange portion, the: cupholder is lockedv in place- 3. Ina plate andcup. supporting, device, a plate having a socket element orritsunder surface, a.

stake means having a horizontally disposed flange: portion engageable with said socket, said; stake means including a V-shaped ground engaging element and having opposed tongueelements bridge ing the-open side of said;v-shapaanda-cupholding element engageable with said tongues, the interengagement of said cupholder and said tongues being so constructed and arranged that when said plate is engaged with said flange portion, the-cupholder is, locked in place; said cup: hDIdEI-TGOIIIPIiSiIIg :asheet metal stamping including a shank porticm a. tongue element at one end thereof engageable with said stake means and a socket at the: other end adapted to receive and hold'acup or-other beveragecontainer positioned exterior to -and adjacent .the periphery; of. said plate.

HAROLD J, LE. VESCONTE. GEORGE. W. PLUMB,

REF RENCES CITED The following references are: of record in the me of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. I 

